In 2025, a remarkable story unfolded at the intersection of African music and European football: Skales, the Nigerian Afrobeat sensation, has experienced a dramatic career revival thanks in large part to Lamine Yamal — the teenage star of FC Barcelona — and the power of virality on social media. But contrary to popular belief, recent verifiable reports do not support claims that Yamal instructed Adidas to pay Skales for using “Shake Body,” nor that Skales was directly commissioned millions by Adidas. Below, I unpack what is known, verify what is rumored, and lay out the concrete ways Yamal’s influence has propelled Skales back into the global spotlight.
The Verified Facts
1. “Shake Body” resurfaces globally after viral TikTok dance
Skales’ 2015 hit “Shake Body” has seen a dramatic resurgence after Lamine Yamal posted a video on TikTok blasting the song and dancing to it alongside teammates Nico Williams and Samu Omorodion. This clip went viral, contributing to millions of views and reviving the song’s streaming numbers across various platforms.
As a result, “Shake Body” reentered streaming and viral charts in more than 30 countries, including Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland.
2. Career milestones for Skales tied to the renewed song’s popularity
Skales attained one million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time in his career owing to the renewed interest.
He also performed live at FC Barcelona’s Copa del Rey celebration party after their 3-2 victory over Real Madrid, a moment that offered him direct connection with his new European audience.
Meeting with Lamine Yamal, his mother Sheila Ebana, and Yamal’s brother was documented during these celebrations. Skales shared video footage online of the meet-and-greet.
3. New musical projects and tributes
Capitalizing on the momentum, Skales released a new track titled “Dance Like Lamine Yamal”, collaborating with Spanish-based artist 3Dnan. The single is positioned as a tribute to Yamal’s role in the viral resurgence of “Shake Body”.
Skales has acknowledged the influence of Yamal’s viral content as a factor in both his renewed visibility and his creative inspiration.
4. Brand usage and media placement
“Shake Body” has been featured as the soundtrack for a new Adidas advertisement starring Lamine Yamal, released in September 2025. The ad also unveils Yamal’s new signature logo.
However, sources do not confirm that Yamal told Adidas to pay Skales, or that such instructions were part of the agreement.
What Remains Unconfirmed or Misinterpreted
Claims that Skales was “paid millions” by Adidas specifically due to Yamal’s request have no credible supporting evidence in the sources reviewed. The Adidas campaign does use “Shake Body,” but whether a negotiation was initiated by Yamal or made on Yamal’s behest is not documented.
The suggestion that Adidas used his song in a video announcing his new boots because Yamal told them to is similarly unverified. While Yamal has a partnership with Adidas and a signature logo unveiled, the sources describe usage of “Shake Body” in an Adidas ad campaign — but not as a boots-launch video directed by Yamal.
Why This Matters: The “Yamal Effect” and Lessons in Virality
Organic virality can revive dormant hits: A 10-year-old track like “Shake Body” (decade since release) regained life without a manufactured campaign, but through natural sharing, football/regional celebrity endorsement (dance videos), and fan-driven challenges.
Cross-industry influence: Football stars aren’t just athletes — they are cultural influencers. A dance video, shared widely, bridged sports and music, opening up markets in Europe for an Afrobeat track from Nigeria.
Ownership and independence pay off: Skales retains ownership of his masters, which means he fully benefits from the streaming resurgence and sync/licensing opportunities. That increases artists’ leverage in situations like these when songs re-trend.
While it is tempting to dramatize the narrative — “Yamal told Adidas, Skales paid millions” — the more inspiring truth is one of unexpected resurgence. A song that once had its moment has been reborn through authenticity, social media, and cross-cultural resonance. Yamal’s videos didn’t just boost streams; they reintroduced “Shake Body” to new listeners around the world. And Skales, after years of effort, is now reaping what might have seemed to some like a long over-due recognition.
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